Carbon solvent and lubricant



Patented July 2, 1940 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARBON SOLVENT'AND LUBRICANT Roy L. Buflington and Phillip 11. Elliott, Marietta,

Ohio,

assignors to Carsolac Corporation,

- Marietta, Ohio, at corporation o! Ohio No Drawing. Application October 11, 1937,

Serial No; 168,521

1 Claim.

gear grease, cup grease and the like, or even to paraflin wax, which latter. may be used in the form of crude scale wax, and also embraces the completed mixtures. The composition is also applicable to other mixtures which contain vegetable oils as well as numerous other organic and inorganic materials or compounds in improving their' qualities as applied for various purposes. a

One object of the invention is to produce a liquid composition which will improve motor fuels by preventing deposition of carbon in the cylinder, which will also prevent the deposition of heavy solid carbonaceous deposits on the rings (including oil rings) of the cylinders of internal g5 combustion engines, thereby greatly increasing the emciency of such engines.

The composition may be referred to as a carbon solven because use of this material will rapidly remove deposits of so-called carbon in so the engines, even though the engines are badly fouled with deposited carbon. It may be called to attention that the black deposit in engines is not, in most cases, pure carbon, but it is a mixture of various substances including solid free 38 carbon, heavy oil, deposited gums (or thermal decomposition products of the same) partial combustion products of oil, accompanied by more or less road dust and other materials. But when the carbon and organic matter are removed, dis- 40 solved and/or eliminated, bythe use of the compositions described in the present case, the incombustible matter will be blown out and carried away, for example in the exhaust or will be gotten rid of in other ways. It will also be under- 45 stood that the so-called carbon deposited in the engine by incomplete combustion is of variable composition, depending on a largenumber of factors. This "carbon solvent composition also has numerous other properties and advantages as will be more fully disclosed hereinafter rendering it of particular value in other compounds.

Another object is the production of lubricants, 55 suitable for gasoline engines, natural gas engines and also lubricants for various other purposes.

In the ordinary operation of internal combustion engines, in addition to the carbon deposits in the cylinder head, on and around the valves, -5- spark plugs, etc., also more or less free carbon, gum, road dust, and other impurities may collect as a hard material in and adjacent to the rings, particularly the oil rings in the cylinders of such engines, which material will also be dissolved or- .10 otherwise removed by'the use of the composition of the present case, particularly by theimproved t lubricating oilv given below. The compositions of the presentcase dissolve or remove the said gum, carbon and other solid matter, thereby l5 avoiding excessive friction and excessive wear on the engine. 1

When the composition of the present case is applied to any motor lubricating oils (usually consisting wholly or largely of hydrocarbons) 20 that are used in connection with internal combustion engines, such oils are not allowed to carbonize or to deposit carbon, gum, or road dust, or residue of any sort, in any part of the engine, thereby greatly increasing the emciency of the engine. v

A novel composition which constitutes an intermediate or final product in the present case preferably consists of the following materialsbenzol, nitrobenzene, trinitrobenzene, napthalene and pyridine, these being blended with an oil. However, it is to be understood that these materials may be substituted by numerous equivalent materials, for example toluol or xylol, which are aromatic hydrocarbons having properties 5 similar to benzol, might be substituted for benzol. Similarly, nitrotoluol may be substituted for nitrobenzol; phenylphenol for naphthalene; quinoline, isoquinoline, aniline, toludine and xylidine for pyridine; and other'obvicus equiva- 4o lents may be employed.

In a preferred'modification of practicing the present invention, 25 gallons of 100% motor cenzol are placed in a receptacle, and 22 lbs. of refined (white) flake-form naphthalene are added thereto, and dissolved, preferablyat room temperature, preferably while stirring 'to keep the liquid uniform in composition. Then 6.75 gallons of nitrobenzene are added. This mixture may be stirred for half an hour to thoroughly blend the same together. Then 20 gallons of automobile motor oil are added and well mixed, duringwhich time the temperature is brought gradually to 140 F. For thus warming the mixture, the tank may be provided with a heating Melting point T I v coil or jacket, through which steam or hot water or other heating agent may be passed. Then one quart of pyridine (e. g., at 212 F. or C.) is added, the mixing and heating by the coil continued until the temperature reaches F. Then 2 ounces (by weight) of trinitrobenzol are added, and the heating continued until the temperature reaches F. The agitation or stirring of the mixture is continued for two hours while holding the temperature after adding the trinitrobenzol; The final temperature at this stage is preferably about 160 F. This should produce a thorough blending of the components. This product will be hereinafter referred to as the 6 component mixture, for brevity comprising a mixture of the preferred materials in the following approximate proportions Motor oil --per cent 36.5 Motor benzol ..do 46.

Nitrobenzol do 12.5 Naphthalene do 4.5 Pyridine do 0.5 Trinitrobenzene (trace only) 0.01

The mixing after adding the motor oil is preferably accomplished by passing the mixture repeatedly through a centrifugal pump with double impeller, to break up the oil globules and to insure thorough blending.

The operator should use extreme care not'to inhale the fumes or vapors coming from the mixing steps. Extreme care should of course be used in handling the trinitrobenzene, which is explosive, and also in handling the mixture after adding this.

Some of the properties of this mixture may be illustrated best by analyses of several samples designated #2, #3, #4, and #5, for example, as follows:

Viscosity at 210 F Flash point Carbon residue "percent" Acidity (Mg KOH per gram) milligrams. Film strength on Almcn type machine ..lb. per sq. in.) Corrosion; 48hr. at 220 F After 48 hr. oxidation test:

Sediment "percent" Tarry matter 48, 000 None 0. 025 None 0. 040 None It is to be noted that they all have high film strength and that they have the property of imparting still greater film strength to motor oils and greases: As an example 2 /2% of sample #4 having a film strength of 48,000 lbs. blended with 97 /g% of Bright stock of film strength 25,000 lbs. with the result that the mixture had a film strength of 74,000 lbs. Another example of a blend of 2/ of sample #4 with 97 /2% vegetable oil disclosed that this mixture had a. film strength in excess of 125,000 lbs. per sq. in. and other blends for crankcase oils and greases showed extremely high film strengths, much higher than best quality motor oils and greases indicating that equipment lubricated with such lubricant would consume 15% to 25% less power.

All the foregoing tests were conducted at the plant of Frederick C. Atkinson, Inc., Indianapolis.

The motor lubricating oil which is preferably used in this operation, is a Bright stock automobile lubricating oil. For example a liquid motor oil which has a gravity 27 to 28 B., fiash point 550 to 555 F., fire test 625 to 630 F., viscosity 150 seconds at 210 F., and free carbon content 1.4%

is very suitable. But the invention is not limited to the use of this particular oil. cuts (optionally chemically purified and dewaxed), can be similarly used.

In certain cases, as when this is to be used as a motor lubricant or as a heavy duty lubricant, say in an automobile, a clear glyceride oil (preferably vegetable, such as peanut oil or soya bean oil or cottonseed oil) can be added to form a liquid blended product.

The benzol used may be well purified benzene, although the commercial article containing more or less of the homologues such as toluol, can also be used;

The nitrobenzene used may be pure mono-nitrobenzene or a commercial article consisting largely of mono-nitro-benzene with a small percentage (e. g., up to about 10%) of dinitrobenzene.

The trinitrobenzene may be the pure material or a commercial product containing small amounts of the other nitro compounds.

The benzol, nitrobenzene, and trinitrobenzene can be to some extent replaced by the lower homologues such as toluol and its derivatives.

The naphthalene may be the pure article, or the white sublimed crystals which need not be chemically pure, or to some extent these can be replaced by the relatively crude naphthalene fraction as obtained in the distillation of coal tar.

The pyridine may be the commercial article.

Small amounts of the usual impurities in the substances used appear to do no particular harm.

For producing the composition, the other five components referred to above, are mixed with a hydrocarbon oil such as motor oil, in the proportions given in the above examples, but the invention is not limited to these proportions, which can be varied to a reasonable extent.

1 gallon of the mixture (including the mineral lubricating oil) may be added to say 400 gallons of gasoline, which latter is improved by such addition, as indicated above. For this purpose,

even a low grade gasoline can be used, which will be greatly improved by such addition. It is immaterial if the gasoline already contains the usual addition of tetra-ethyl lead or similar improvers."

For motor lubricating oil, say for use in automobiles, it is recommended to addone part of the above mixture of six components, to 200 to 400 parts (by volume) of the said oil. This forms a liquid oil, the viscosity of which depends on that of the said added oil.

For improving greases such as cup'grease, gear grease and the like, one part by volume of the above mixture of six components can be added to 100 to 250 parts by volume of the said grease, For improvingtscale wax as a heavy duty lubricant, one part by volume of the above-mentioned mixture can be added to 80 to 160 parts by volume of the paraflin or scale wax. This gives a semisolid to solid grease.

For another cup grease and other pressure lubricants (alemite gun) a satisfactory composition consists of 15 parts of the above six component mixture, mineral wax (paraflin) 25 parts, mineral grease (heavy petrolatum) 55 parts, and powdered graphite 10-20 parts, all by weight. Heat the wax and petrolatum until fully liquefied; add the six component mixture and powdered graphite; mix well and continue to stir until practically congealed; then pour into container.

Lubricating oils comprising 6 parts of the component mixture and 94 parts lubricating oil min- Other petroleum eral or of the vegetable oils, castor, etc., in then same proportion are of high quality having the advantages afforded by said mixture.

This'6 component mixture is also very useful for addition to fuel oil, e. g., the oil used in heating residences or for industrial heating, greatly lessening the liability of needle valves and small oil passages .to become gummed up or clogged with gum, carbon and the like. One part of the six component mixture can be added to 300 to 500 parts of the fuel oil.

But while certain proportions have been stated above, in which the 6 component mixture can be added to these oily or waxy materials, these proportions are given purely by way of illustration and the proportions to be used can be varied within wide limits.

The 6 component mixture with a lubricating oil, in the proportions stated, forms an over-head lubricant as well as a carbon solvent. Added to the cheaper grades of lubricating products made by various refiners, this conditions the same to furnish a high grade lubricating oil.

Added to gear greases, it prevents gumming, and improves the lubrication.

This product can also be added to paramns (for example scale wax, even in a crude condition), to make a high grade heavy grease for use on heavyduty bearings such as roll necks in steel mills.

It can also be used to take the place of tallows heretofore used for such purposes, andit can be used as a wax lubricant in the cold drawing operations, in steel mills.

The 6 component mixture can be added to kerosene, to improve the same, whether the kerosene is to be used as lamp oil or for cleaning purposes.

While mention is made above, to the useof the above materials in lubricating oils, and while mineral lubricating oils, greases and the like,

have been particularly mentioned, it will be understood that the addition of small amounts or large amounts of fatty oils (liquid or solid) is not precluded.

The above compositions are in no way injurious to metals such as are commonly used in internalcombustion engines, bearings and the like.

The composition can be added to any kind of lubricating stock, composed wholly or in large part of mineral oil or mineral oil products or distillates.

The lubricating oils (motor lubricants) produced as above, are also especially useful in gasfed internal combustion engines, e. g., those fed with natural gas. In such engines, according to the present invention, the usual formation of hard carbon on and around the rings is prevented, and any hard carbon if already formed is converted into a soft form somewhat resembling graphite or lamp black. For this purpose the mixture of lubricating oil and the above mixture of six components, is fed to the cylinder.

For the production of a heavy duty lubricant,

the aluminum stearate added and well stirred,

a short period while being thoroughly agitated until a thoroughly uniform mixture is produced. In another formula for a heavy duty grease, 6% of the 6 component mixture above described together with 1.5% of peanut oil, and 0.5% of aluminum stearate, can be incorporated with parafiin wax, M. R122 to 124 F.

In this example, first melt the paraflin and heat to 150 F., then add sucessively the aluminum stearate, the 6 component mixture and the peanut oil, being careful not to carry the temperature to above 150 F. After well mixing at 150 F.,let stand for a time, at this temperature, or a little lower, for undissolved matter to settle out. Then decant the clear liquid molten grease, e. g., into molds.

This grease is very suitable for lubricating roll necks in steel mills and for bearings where heavy duty work enters in such as large bearings used in crushing plants for stone, silver or gold ores, peanut crushers, etc., and the value of this heavy duty grease may be attributed to its solvent power on carbon, gums, etc. This lubricant carries a higher pressure than other lubricants or greases now used in the common practice. This is due to the carbon and gum solvent presented by the uses of the 6 component mixture, of which is contained in the formula heretofore and fully described.

A special formula for special high speed lubricant is as follows: 26% of the 6 component mixture given above, 1.5%. of aluminum stearate,

remaining 5 components of the 6 component mixture, then add the paraffin wax which latter has been melted at about 122 to 124 F., or above. As an alternative the mixture with the aluminum stearate and asbestos powder can be allowed to cool to F, before adding the remainder of Y the 6 component mixture and then add the whole to a carbon free wax in proportions to make the 100% mixture.

The grease so prepared is very suitable as a cup grease, e. g., for putting into a cup it is necessarily of a soft nature so that the cap may be screwed down to extrude it into a high speed bearing. It is also suitable for gears and the like, where high speed causes the generation of heat. It is also suitable for automobile pumps and the like, where the heat does not exceed F.

Example of semi-high speed bearing grease in solid form. 81 lbs. of refined paraflin wax of 122/124 M. P.-A. S. T. M., are heated to F.

Then 0.5 lb. of aluminum stearate-is'added and stirred in. Then 1.5 lbs. of cotton seed oil is added, followed by 1 lb. of peanut oil. The pot of material is then taken ofi the fire, and allowed to cool to 100 F. while stirring. The mixture is still liquid or semi-solid'at 100 F. 16 lbs. of the 6 component mixture given above, is then added and well stirred to blend the same thoroughly. The aluminum stearate should be pure, preferably that imported from and knownas New Zealand. 1

This gives a semi-hard grease, very suitable for the packing of centrifugal pumps, etc., where heavy greases acting as a lubricant are used. It is very suitable in the stuffing boxes of ships and mitor' boats, in contact with fresh or salt \75 water. It also causes the shaft to get the proper amount of lubricant when used in stuffing boxes around the shaft where the shaft remains cool by the circulation of water. It can be used at any temperature above 5 F.; below this temperature the grease of this compound as the lubricant on steel mill roll necks, or for any other heavy duty bearing work. It also can be used as a packing grease for shaft or drive shaft for motor boats, or ships, where salt water or other water comes into contact with the bearings, to maintain proper lubrication and to prevent injury of the bearings by water, including sea water.

A formula for lubricant for light or heavy gears employing vegetable oils is as follows: 25% of the six component mixture given above, 70% cotton seed oil and 5% high test mineral oil heated to 120 F. and this mixture is blended as follows: first heat the cotton seed oil to 120 F., then add the mineral oil, then the six component mixture and allow to blend-for 30 minutes at said temperature.

This oil'is used in light or heavy gears in either high or low speed duties where such gears are inclosed by steel casings. This 011 has but little expansion under heat, does not foam and will go to 400 F. The six component mixture prevents the formation of gum and keeps such other residues in solution and furnishes a perfect lubricant.

A formula for making oil for prevention of crankcase sludge includes 55% of the above six component mixture and 45% peanut oil heated and blended. The peanut oil is first heated to 140 F. and then the six component mixture is added and after this is blended for 30 minutes at said temperature /2 of 1% by weight of aluminum stearate is added and allowed to blend for one hour.

In several of the above formulae it is to be understood that various elements are subject to substitution by others; for example, in place of asbestos, talc, soapstone or colloidal clay may be used, and magnesium and/or stearates or palmitates or oleates, triethanolamine stearate and other homologous stearates, glyceryl or glycol condensates of fatty acids (the stearates or oleates) may be used as substitutes for aluminum stearate. Similarly cottonseed oil and peanut oil may be exchanged or the following fixed vegetable oils may be used as alternates, castor, soya bean, corn, poppyseed, rape, palm, sesame, and other oils featuring the glycerides of fatty acids.

The various lubricants including the semihigh speed bearing greases herein referred to do not necessarily rely upon the six component mixture as the base lubricant but due to their rare characteristics this six component mixture has numerous advantages as follows:

1. It is the carbon free element in the various forms of greases or lubricants.

2. Added to other elements it eliminates the effect of sulphur in hyrocarbon fuels.

3. The high fllm strength which is affords to lubricants as shown by various tests referred to herein.

4. In its application in the various formulae it operates to eliminate oxidation.

The superior qualities and numerous advantages are proven by numerous tests in addition to those quoted hereinbefore. All of these 1 tests indicated the same high ratings for other compounds including the six component mixture. A test of a drawing compound including the six component mixture analyzed by the same organization is as follows:

Melting point F 119 Viscosity at 210 F seconds 38.5 Flash point F 140 Carbon residue per cent 0.55 Acidity (Mg. KOH per gram) mg 1.8 Film strength on Almen type machine pounds per sq. in 74,000 Corrosion, 48 hours at 220 F None After 48 hour oxidation test:

Sediment per cent 0.025 Tarry matter None No. 1 No. 2 No. 3

Melting point F 116 120 118 Viscosity at 210 F seconds. 58 85 Acidity (Mg. KOH per gram)..percent. 0.08 0. 08 0.08 Film strength on Almen type machine lb. per sq. in 90,000 125,000 90,000 After 48 hr. oxidation test: tarry matter percent. 0.035 0. 035 0.05

The film strength .on all these greases is above the graduation of the Almen machine; hence we had to estimate these values. The film of No. 2 could not be broken.

A still further test for film strength of a sample of crankcase oil after 2600 miles use, follows:

Film strength on Almen machine, 48,000 lbs. per sq. in.

The film strength of this crankcase is unusually high. Best quality motor oils even when new will run approximately one half the film strength shown above.

Thus the uses of the six component mixture in lubricating oils and other lubricants increases the time during which they will function by 50-100%, in other words it may double the time or to put it another way out lubricating costs in half. Oils thus treated and run for double the normal period have been found to have a film value of 74,000 under conditions of test (260-940 S.) and 3504750 pounds per square inch pressure.

The following condition takes place chemically and catalytically for the reason that the six component mixture is a carbon and free carbon solvent. Usedin any products made from carbon oil, such as waxes, it does not allow the said products to become hardened or crystallized under heat due to the fact that it is a solvent for other products such as set forth in this formula.

It is a solvent for any vegetable oils or the solid family. In addition it is a solvent for any waxes or any other by-products made from any crude oils now known in the art in the common practice of oil refining. The same does apply in any of the vegetable oil fields where residues are present in the refining of any of the vegetable oils such as peanut, cotton seed, rape oil, castor, soy bean oils or any other of their derivatives thereof. The six component mixture used in this process eliminates any gumming or disintegration which commonly takes place with the above named vegetable oils when a small amount of heat is present; more so when oxygen is allowed to constantly be present in any of the oils. Any of the above oils in any l5fvessel left open to an atmospherical condition immediately becomes a waxy. content around the sides of the walls and do not remain in emulsion.

The same condition occurs more readfly when applied to motors where small 011 feed lines are necessary in the operation of such'motors or vehicles. semi-refinery in the separation of heavier products from the light. This is more practically recited in the use of such castor or other vegetable oils where it has been attempted to be used in racing cars and airplanes. These products have been discarded for the reason of what is known to the layman as gumming, which is nothing more than separation of the extreme heavy parts of such oils under'the heat and pressure that they have been submergedto, for this purpose known as lubricant.

.I'. has become a fact from our best engineers that castor and the like oils .produce the best lubricant and higher stress test than any other known oils. However, the gumming has been the sin'of all these 1 oils which has been eliminated by the use of the six component mixture since it is a carbon and residue solvent either 40 in the hydrocarbon .or vegetable oil families.

This has been a proven fact and is substantiated by actual tests, some of which have been set forth herein. This is probably due to its catalytic action produced in conjunction with the electrolytic action that may appear under various beats and pressures.

Such small lines and heat act as a Vegetable oils have a tendency to gum under a heat of aproximately 140 F.; more so when oxygen appears where such vegetable oils are.

used. The ,six component mixture, which is a carbon solvent, prevents the lower heat resisting properties that are in the many vegetable oils to separate. It keeps these vegetable oils from separating and causes them at all times under working conditions to remain in emulsion. The-product will stand an approximately 640 F. under working conditions without any disintegration of gums that form in vegetable oils under a much lower heat and working condition.

In extreme pressure lubrication wear consists of instantaneous welding of one metal surface to the counter metal and the instant breaking away by the moving part; the continuation of this process constitutes wear. It has been found that a small percentage of these materials in an oil imparts an anti-welding property thus decreasing wear and decreasing friction.

The foregoing examples of compounds obviously suggest others within the spirit of our invention and it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise embodiments as herein set forth or to the procedures since the invention clearly includes other embodiments and equivalents as defined in scope of the claim.

What is claimed as new is:

A composition of matter suitable for heavyduty lubrication which comprises the following substances in approximately the proportions stated:

ROY L. BUFFINGTON. PHILLIP H. EILIOI'I. 

